Electric vehicle

Abstract

An electric vehicle includes: (a) an electric motor; (b) a power transmission device to which the electric motor is connected in a power transmittable manner; (c) a driving battery; (d) an electric-power control apparatus configured to control an electric power transmitted and received between the battery and the electric motor; (e) a mechanical-electrical integrated unit constituted by the electric-power control apparatus and a drive apparatus that includes the electric motor and the power transmission device; (f) a casing that houses the mechanical-electrical integrated unit; (g) an oil pump configured to discharge an oil; and (h) a cooling oil passage configured to supply the oil to the electric motor for cooling the electric motor. The electric-power control apparatus is disposed adjacent to and above the electric motor in a vertical direction of the electric vehicle. The cooling oil passage is disposed between the electric motor and the electric-power control apparatus.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electric vehicle comprising:
 an electric motor;   a power transmission device to which the electric motor is connected in a power transmittable manner;   a driving battery;   an electric-power control apparatus configured to control an electric power transmitted and received between the battery and the electric motor;   a mechanical-electrical integrated unit constituted by the electric-power control apparatus and a drive apparatus that includes the electric motor and the power transmission device;   a casing that houses the mechanical-electrical integrated unit;   an oil pump configured to discharge an oil; and   a cooling oil passage configured to supply the oil to the electric motor for cooling the electric motor;   wherein the electric-power control apparatus is disposed adjacent to and above the electric motor in a vertical direction of the electric vehicle, and   wherein the cooling oil passage is disposed between the electric motor and the electric-power control apparatus.   
     
     
         2 . The electric vehicle according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plurality of power lines that electrically connect between the electric motor and the electric-power control apparatus,   wherein the cooling oil passage is disposed between two of the power lines.   
     
     
         3 . The electric vehicle according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the two of the plurality of power lines are shorter than another of the plurality of power lines.   
     
     
         4 . The electric vehicle according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the electric-power control apparatus includes an inverter that has a three-phase bridge circuit of U phase, V phase and W phase,   wherein the electric motor is a three-phase alternating-current synchronous motor that is to be driven by the inverter, and   wherein the plurality of power lines are three power lines configured to transmit a three-phase alternating current of U phase, V phase and W phase.   
     
     
         5 . The electric vehicle according to  claim 4 ,
 wherein the two of the plurality of power lines are shorter than another of the plurality of power lines.   
     
     
         6 . The electric vehicle according to  claim 2 ,
 wherein the plurality of power lines include a plurality of electric-motor-side power line portions and a plurality of electric-power-control-apparatus-side power line portions, such that the electric-motor-side power line portions are connected to the electric motor while the electric-power-control-apparatus-side power line portions are connected to the electric-power control apparatus,   the electric vehicle further comprising:   a terminal block that connects between each of the electric-motor-side power line portions and a corresponding one of the electric-power-control-apparatus-side power line portions,   wherein the cooling oil passage is disposed between two of the electric-motor-side power line portions which are included in the two of the power lines.   
     
     
         7 . The electric vehicle according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the electric motor includes a first electric motor and a second electric motor,   wherein the drive apparatus is disposed in the electric vehicle, such that a rotation axis of the first electric motor, a rotation axis of the second electric motor and a rotation axis of the power transmission device are parallel to a horizontal direction that is perpendicular to a longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle, and such that the rotation axis of the second electric motor and the rotation axis of the first electric motor are arranged in this order of description from above to below in the vertical direction,   wherein the electric-power control apparatus includes a lower-side portion which is located in a position overlapping with an upper-side portion of the second electric motor as seen in the longitudinal direction and which is located above the first electric motor in the vertical direction, and   wherein the cooling oil passage is located between the first electric motor and the lower-side portion of the electric-power control apparatus.   
     
     
         8 . The electric vehicle according to  claim 1 ,
 wherein the cooling oil passage extends in parallel to a rotation axis of the electric motor.